Flashlight switch



July 26, 1949. P. c. HAAS I FLASHLIGHT SWITCH Filed May 18, 1945 awe whom 0 FQL/L C1 Ha /:5

operating condition at all times.

Patented July 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 FLASHLIGHT SWITCH 7 Paul C. Haas, Mendon, Mich. Application May 18, 1945, Serial No. 594,428

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in electrical switch mechanism for flashlights, being particularly adapted to vapor and explosion proof types of construction.

It is of great importance that emergency and industrial flashlights be vapor proof and in For the reason that industrial flashlights are customarily kept in tool boxes and roughly handled, electrical switches of standard construction are often inadve'rtently closed when not in use, discharging the batteries Usually the fact only becomes known when an emergency arises.

Thus one of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved vapor sealed switch of the character described.

Another object is to provide a flashlight switch having a non-flashing off position.

Another object is to provide a flashlight switch in which a single member is utilized for both flash and continuous on.

These and other objects and advantages to be found in the specific arrangement and construction will appear hereinafter.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical cross section of a flashlight embodying the present invention with the switch in the off position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with the switch in the flash position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the switch in the continuous on position, and

Fig. 4.- is a perspective view of the flashlight with the switch shown in the off position.

Referring to the drawing, the flashlight I is preferably of vapor and explosion proof construction. An electrical contact I2 comprises a portion I4 extending to the rear end of the light for connection with the end of the last battery, and a forward end I6 fixed at I8 and adapted to be depressed into contact with the reflector to close the circuit. This is all standard construction.

The switch mechanism for depressing the end I6 of the contact I2 comprises an actuator 22 having a rough surface 24 to receive the thumb for depressing and sliding the actuator 22. Preferably the actuator is of molded, thin wall construction to provide a projection 26 on the interior of the chamber 28, side rails 30 having projections 32, and bosses 34 to carry the pivot pin 36. The bottom edge 38 of the actuator 22 is located in one plane forward of the bosses 34, with the rear bottom edge portion 40 located in a plane slightly angular thereto. This ar- 2 rangement permits limited pivotal movement of the actuator 22 about the pin 36.

Shown integral with the outer casing 42 is a guide channel 44 having flanges 46 which project over the rails 30 and projections 32. This construction guides and locates the forward end of the actuator 22. For guiding and locating the rearward end of the actuator 22, a return bent spring 48 is provided which is secured to the casing 42 through a screw 50. The spring 48 is straddled by the sides 52 of the actuator 22 with a free sliding fit permitting relative axial movement while restraining the rearward end against lateral movement.

The movement of the actuator 22 to depress the end I6 of the contact I8 is transmitted through a U-shaped lever 54 fulcrumed at 55 in a resilient seal 56 located in a conical opening 58 and held in position by the lower portion 60 of the spring 48. The upper portion 62 of the spring 48 stresses the lever 54 into the position shown in Fig. 1 through engagement with the underside of the upper leg 64. As more clearly shown in Fig. 3, the lower leg 66 rests on the end I6 to depress the same when the lever 54 is rocked.

In the o position, shown in Fig. 1, the actuator 22 is to the extreme right with the pin 36 located in a recessed portion 68 of the spring 48. In this position the projection 26 is directly over the fulcrum 55 of the lever 54 and normal downward pressure on the portion 24 of the actuator is resisted. In Fig. 2, the actuator 22 has been moved to the left into the flash position. Projection 26 is now to the left of the fulcrum 55 and pressure on the portion 24 will rock the actuator 22 around the pin 36 as an axis, depressing the end It into contact with the reflector 20 to close the electrical circuit. Further movement of the actuator 22 brings the same into the continuous on position, shown in Fig. 3, with the projections 32 located beneath the flanges 46 to hold the actuator 22 depressed.

It should be apparent that with the actuator 22 in the off position of Fig. l, downward pressure will not rock the lever 54 and the electrical circuit remains open. Thus there is little likelihood of the batteries being inadvertently discharged. At the same time this safeguard has been accomplished without sacrifice of flash and continuous on positions, all combined with a single actuator.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim is:

1. A flashlight construction having an exterior casing, an actuator mounted on the outer side of said casing and supported for relative axial movement, a deflectable contact located on the inner side of said casin and having one end fixed thereto, a relatively rigid connector extending between said actuator and contact through said casing, a resilient bushing sealing said connector in said casing and serving as a fulcrum therefor, and a cam connection between said actuator and said connector operative upon rela tive axial movement of said actuator to roclcs'aid connector around said fulcrum to deflect said contact. a

2. A flashlight construction having a casing, an opening through said casing, a resilient ibushing sealing said opening, a U-shaped lever extending 3. A sealed flashlight switch construction com prising a casing, an opening through saidcasing,

' an actuator on the outside of said casing and mov able relative to said opening, a contact operator extending through said' opening, means'seal-ing said opening and supporting said operator for rocking movement about a fulcrum adjacent saidopening, saidoperator having a portion extending along the outside of said casing with which saidactuator engages along'its length at varying 'dis-" tances from saidfulcrum.

4: A flashlight switch constructioncomprising 4 a. casing having an opening therein, a resilient bushing sealing said opening, a U-shaped lever passing through said bushing and having its fulcrum therein, an actuator for said lever means supporting said actuator for relative axial movement on the outside of said casing, said actuator being movable along the outside of said casing from ofi position to flash and continuous on"-p0sitions, means on said actuator for engagi n'gandrockingsaid levefup'on reiative axial movement along said casing, said last means being constructed and arranged to engage said lever to one side of said fulcrum with said actuator in the flash and continuous on positions, in the oft position said last means being located in an inoperative position relative to said lever and its fiilcrum,

PAUL C. HAAS.

I REFERENCES CITED 'i'hejfollowing rerrmces are-of receru iu the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

